In olden days it was assumed that this a Gentleman’s game and we need to play in that sense. But Now-a-days due to overwhelming popularity MCC thought to put them in words as a guideline to be followed while playing this game.

The Laws of Cricket
The Preamble – The Spirit of Cricket

Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that it should be played not only within its Laws but also within the Spirit of the Game. Any action which is seen to abuse this spirit causes injury to the game itself. The major responsibility for ensuring the spirit of fair play rests with the captains

1 There are two Laws which place the responsibility for the team’s conduct firmly on the captain

Responsibility of captains The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the Spirit of the Game as well as withing the Laws.

Players’ conduct In the event of a player failing to comply with instructions by an umpire, or criticising by word or action the decisions of an umpire, or showing dissent, or generally behaving in a manner which might bring the game into disrepute, the umpire concerned shall in the first place report the matter to the other umpire and to the players’s captain, and instruct the latter to take action.

2 Fair and unfair play

According to the Laws the umpires are the sole judges of fair and unfair play The umpires may intervene at any time and it is the responsibility of the captain to take action where required

3 The umpires are authorised to intervene in cases of:

Time wasting Damaging the pitch Dangerous or unfair bowling Tampering with the ball Any other action that they consider to be unfair

4 The Spirit of the Game involves RESPECT for:

Your opponents Your own captain and team The role of the umpires The game and its traditional values

5 It is against the Spirit of the Game:

To dispute an umpire’s decision by word, action or gesture To direct abusive language towards an opponent or an umpire To indulge in cheating or any sharp practice, for instance:

(a) to appeal knowing that the batsman is not out (b) to advance towards an umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing (c) to seek to distract an opponent either verbally or by harassment with persistent clapping or unneccessary noise under the guise of enthusiasm and motivation of one’s own side

6 Violence There is no place for any act of violence on the field of play

7 Players Captains and umpires together set the tone for the conduct of a cricket match. Every player is expected to make an important contribution to this